Pharrell Williams will be the creative director of Louis Vuitton in its menswear line

(CNN) –– American musician, record producer and designer Pharrell Williams will succeed Virgil Abloh as Louis Vuitton’s creative director for its menswear line, the French fashion company announced Tuesday in a statement.

The appointment is effective immediately and Williams’ first collection will debut in June during Paris Men’s Fashion Week.

“I am pleased to welcome Pharrell back home, after our collaborations in 2004 and 2008 for Louis Vuitton, as our new creative director for the men’s line,” Pietro Beccari, Louis Vuitton president and CEO, said in a statement. . “His creative vision of him that transcends fashion will undoubtedly take Louis Vuitton into a new and very exciting chapter,” he added.

The news comes just over a year after Abloh’s death in November 2021, when he was 41, after a battle with cancer.

The unexpected death of the visionary designer shocked the industry and beyond. As Louis Vuitton’s first black artistic director, Abloh made history when he received the appointment in 2018. He was also widely recognized for attracting a younger demographic to the storied fashion house due to his designs with an aesthetic streetwear to the world of luxury

Virgil Abloh during a 2021 Louis Vuitton event in Paris. (Credit: Christian Vierig/Getty Images)

The announcement of Williams’ appointment caps months of speculation over who would take over Abloh’s role.

Although Williams, winner of 13 Grammy Awards, is best known for his music career, the 49-year-old entertainer also has a strong set of credentials in the fashion world. He co-founded the Billionaire Boys Club streetwear brand in 2003 with fashion designer Nigo and has collaborated with a host of luxury brands, including Tiffany & Co., Moncler and Adidas.

From a massive brown top hat he wore to the 2014 Grammy Awards to his now-signature Tiffany sunglasses, Williams’ edgy personal style often makes headlines and he’s no stranger to the fashion front row.

Like Abloh, Williams’ creativity is interdisciplinary: In early 2022, he announced he was taking part in an ambitious new hotel project, expected to open next year in the Bahamas, and during the pandemic he launched a cutlery set. portable to limit single-use plastic consumption when eating outdoors.

It remains to be seen how Williams will apply all his skills in his new role at Louis Vuitton. But a flurry of industry reactions to this news on social media suggests she’ll have a packed house at her first show this summer.